"I’d like to think we can do a great job because of who’s sitting around the table."

The female premiers represent over 85 per cent of Canada's population.

3.) Health rally

Several health organizations have organized a rally of "health care allies" for Thursday morning.

They're asking the premiers to stand up to Harper and demand that he negotiate a 2014 Health Accord with them.

"Worried about the Harper Conservative government having walked away from negotiating with Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers to renew health funding and improve health coverage and concerned about billions of dollars in impending cuts from federal transfers for health care; thousands are taking a stand in Niagara-on-theLake to protect public medicare and uphold health care for all," notes a rally press release.

During the Mulroney and Chretien eras, first ministers' conferences were commonplace as Ottawa sought provincial input on matters relating to health care, social programs, job creation, and the economy.

But Harper seems to have a different philosophy. He prefers to meet with premiers on a one-on-one basis.